Heater for fluid contained in a vessel

ABSTRACT

For heating fluid in a vessel, a conductive heat exchange structure is provided with one side engaging fluid in the vessel, and a passage is provided on the other side of the heat exchange structure for passing a heating fluid to transmit heat to the fluid to be heated.

nited States Patent 1 Hunt [54] HEATER FOR FLUID CONTAINED IN A VESSEL [76] Inventor: Benner E. Hunt, Box 94, Stockton,

[22] Filed: June 18, 1971 21 App1.No.i 154,367

[52] US. Cl. ..l65/47, 4/172, 126/344 [51] Int. Cl ..F27h 3/10 [58] Field of Search ..126/344, 350 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,091,274 8/1937 Eggleston ..126/350 R Primary Examiner-John J. Camby Attorney-Robert K. Youtie ABSTRACT For heating fluid in a vessel, a conductive heat exchange structure is provided with one side engaging fluid in the vessel, and a passage is provided on the' other side of the heat exchange structure for passing a heating fluid to transmit heat to the fluid to be heated.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIE W29 I975 BENN 12% E. HUNT INVENTOR @MKWL 1 HEATER FOR FLUID CONTAINED IN A VESSEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known to those versed in the art of heating fluids, and especially the heating of fluids in vessels, such as the heating of water in a swimming pool, it has heretofore been common practice to withdraw the fluid or water from the vessel or pool, passing it to and through a heater, and then returning the heated fluid to the vessel; Such heating means is relatively complex, necessarily involving conduits and many connections, and is consequently expensive both in materials and labor.

Prior heaters of thisgeneral type have also required considerable space exteriorly of and apart from the vessel, which space was not always available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention' to provide a heater for fluid contained in a vessel, such as the .water in a swimming pool, which isextremely simple in construction, obviating the need for external piping or conduit, and which thereby effects substantial savings in costs.

. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a heater having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which occupies a minimum of space, and is highly durable and reliable throughout a long useful life.

Otherobjects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to'the accompanyingdrawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heater of the present invention and partially illustrating a swimming pool or vessel containing water or other fluid to be heated.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the heater in exploded condition.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the heater of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a slightly modified embodiment of the instant heater.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS S 2 to the wall opening 15. A generally rectangular or other suitably configured gasket 17 may be interposed be-.

tween the vessel wall 11 and heat exchanger 16 to effect a water-tight seal, suitable fastener means securing the heat exchanger in water-tight covering relation with the vessel wall opening 15.

Advantageously, the heat exchanger 16 may be of generally rectangular outline configuration, say including a generally rectangular circumferential flange 20 secured in facing engagement with the gasket 17. Centrally of the circumferential flange 20, the plate-like construction of heat exchanger 16 may be ribbed or fluted, as by a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending, formed ribs or ridges 21. That is, the plate-like exchanger construction 16 may have its central portion deformed, as by alternating depressions and ribs 20, to greatly increasethe surface area of the heat exchanger. Further, the parallel, longitudinal extension of the ribs 21 with respect to the elongate dimension of exchanger 16, serves to structurally reinforce the latter to effectively resist the pressure of fluid and reinforce the vessel wall 11.

The elongate, generally plate-like heat exchanger construction 16 is arranged generally vertically on the vessel wall 11. I

Exteriorly of the heat exchanger 16, in facing relation with the lower region of the heat exchanger, is a housing or chamber 25, which may be of generally rectangular configuration and having one side opening toward the heat exchanger. Thus, as may be seen in FIG.

3, the generally rectangular housing 25 has generally horizontal, vertically spaced upper and lower walls 26 and 27, generally vertical opposite side walls 28, see FIG. 4, extending vertically between the side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a front wall 29 extending vertically between the forward edges of the upper and lower walls 26 and 27, and side walls 28. Thus, the housing or chamber 25 is generally box-like having one side open and in facing, fluid communication with the lower region of exchanger 16. The interior of the housing or chamber 25 is lined with insulation, as at 30, of any suitable construction.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower housing wall 27 and side housing walls 28 are each suitably secured in closed or sealed relation with respect to the adjacent edge region of the plate-like exchanger 16. However,

the inner edge thereof. The duct work or passage.

means 31 further includes a pair of side walls 33 upstanding from respective side walls 28 andextending from opposite sides of the passage means wall 32 to the adjacent side edge of exchanger 16. In this manner, the passage means or duct work 31, being in facing spaced relation with the upper region of exchanger 16, combines with the latter to define a generally vertically extending passageway or conduit 35 which opens at its lower end between the upper housing wall 26 and exchanger 16, at 36, with the interior space 37 within the housing 26. The upper end of the passageway 35 opens, as at 38, between the upper ends of the exchanger 16 and duct work 31. Further, the duct work 31 may advantageously be interiorly lined with suitable insulation, as at 39, between the wall 32 and space 35.

A heating fluid is passed through the passageway 35, and may be of any suitable type, such as steam, hot gases, or other. Advantageously, hot combustion gases may be employed, as by utilizing a fuel burner 40, say a gas or oil burner within the chamber 37, having a supply conduit 41 extending exteriorly to a source of fuel. The burneror heat generator 40 may include suitable regulating means, such as a valve stem 42 and an external, manually operable valve operating knob 43 connected in operating relation with the stem. Of course, automatic controls may be provided, as desired. Sufficient air to support the combustion of fuel may pass upwardly into the chamber 37, as through a plurality of openings or holes 44, passing generally vertically through the lower housing wall 27. Thus, the air inlet openings 44 may combine with the chamber 37 and space 35 to define a continuous generally vertically extending passageway having its lower and upper end open. The combustion gases will now be understood to pass upwardly through passageway 35 in heat transfer relation with the heat exchange structure 16, while water or other fluid 45 to be heated receives heat from the exchange structure 16 and moves in the vessel by convection currents to present relatively cool fluid to the exchange structure.

It will now be appreciated that the heaterconstruction of the instant invention is well adapted to accomplish its intended objects, being capable of use with a variety of combustible fuels, as well as various heating fluids, such as steam, hot water, warm air, or other. The instant fluid heater is versatile in utilization, being capable of use with open vats, swimming pools, either above or below ground, and a variety of other vessels. Further, the instant heating device is extremely safe, does not require any pressure vessel, and consequently no relief valve. Also, the instant device being simple in construction and operation, avoids the need for draining or otherwise Winterizing, as is required in prior art devices.

Considering the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a swimming pool or vessel is there generally designated 10a, and includes a wall 110. Secured externally to the vessel wall 11a is a heater 12a similar to the first described heater 12.

More specifically, the heater 120 includes an exchanger structure 16a of generally plate-like construction, being of generally rectangular overall outline configuration, including a generally rectangular circumferential flange 20a suitably affixed in sealed relation with respect to the wall 11a of vessel 10a. The central or remaining region 21a of the exchanger structure 16a is offset from the marginal bounding flange 20a, being located in a plane parallel to and spaced from the marginal flange. As best seen in FIG. 5, the central exchanger region 21a is offset outwardly away from the vessel wall 11a, so as to define between the central exchanger region and vessel wall a generally vertically extending space 22. At the lower and upper regions of the space 22, the vessel wall 11a may be formed with through openings or holes, as at 23 and 24 for communication between the interior of the vessel and the lower and upper regions, respectively of the space 22. As desired, the offset cenual region 21a of the exchanger member or plate 16a may be suitably fluted, ribbed, corrugated, or the like, to increase the area thereof for increased heat transmission.

The remainder of the heater 12a may be essentially similar to the heater 12, including a generally rectangular or box-like, insulated housing 25a defining therein a chamber 37aand ad passage means or duct work 310 extending upwardly from the upper wall of housing 25a and defining a passageway 35a communicating vertically between the chamber 37a and open upper end of the passageway. Air inlet openings 440 may be provided in the bottom wall of the housing 25a, and heat generating means 40a, such as an electric resistance heater may be located within the chamber 370, in operative association with a manually actuable knob, lever or the like 43a for varying the electrical resistance. Of course, the electrical heater 40a is connected to a suitable source of electric power externally of the housing 12a.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, heated air moves inwardly and upwardly through the holes 440 and chamber 37a, passing thence upwardly through and out of the passageway 35a, being in heat transfer relation with respect to the heat exchange structure 16a on the outer side of the latter. On the inner side of the heat exchange structure 16a, the water or fluid 45a in the vessel 10a enters into the space 22 where it is in heat receiving relation with the exchange structure 16a, moving by convection through the space 22, inwardly through opening 23 and outwardly through opening 24.

By this structure, the advantages of the first described embodiment are substantially achieved, while a large opening through the vessel wall is made unnecessary, so that the structural strength of the vessel is not appreciably diminished.

From the foregoing it will now be appreciated that the present invention provides a heater for a fluid in a vessel, which heater is extremely simple in construction, highly effective in operation, easily and inexpensively manufactured, installed and maintained. Of I course, the heat generating means of FIG. 3 may be other than gas, and that of FIG. 5 may be other than electric, these being shown only for purposes of illustrating and without limiting intent.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood'that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A heater for fluid contained in a vessel, said heater comprising a heat conductive exchange structure having one side in facing engagement with fluid to .be heated, a generally vertical passage for a heating fluid on the other side of and in fluid communication with said exchange structure and having a lower inlet and an upper outlet, generally vertically extending ribs on said exchange structure generally coextensive with and projecting into said passage, said ribs combining with said passage to define a plurality of flues, and a combustion heating chamber communicating with a lower region of said passage for heating the heating fluid, for transfer by a heating fluid of heat through said exchange structure to the fluid to be heated.

2. A heater according to claim 1, said exchange structure comprising a plate-like construction for securement to a side wall of the vessel, said plate-like construction being configured for location in closing relation with a relatively large vessel wall opening to transmit heat through the opening.

b latter and said construction remainder a space for passing fluid to be heated.

4. A heater according to claim 1, in combination with insulation insulating said chamber and passage remote from said exchange structure. 

1. A heater for fluid contained in a vessel, said heater comprising a heat conductive exchange structure having one side in facing engagement with fluid to be heated, a generally vertical passage for a heating fluid on the other side of and in fluid communication with said exchange structure and having a lower inlet and an upper outlet, generally vertically extending ribs on said exchange structure generally coextensive with and projecting into said passage, said ribs combining with said passage to define a plurality of flues, and a combustion heating chamber communicating with a lower region of said passage for heating the heating fluid, for transfer by a heating fluid of heat through said exchange structure to the fluid to be heated.
 2. A heater according to claim 1, said exchange structure comprising a plate-like construction for securement to a side wall of the vessel, said plate-like construction being configured for location in closing relation with a relatively large vessel wall opening to transmit heat through the opening.
 3. A heater according to claim 1, said exchange structure comprising a plate-like construction for securement to a side wall of the vessel, said plate-like construction including a peripheral margin located in a plane offset from the plane of the central remainder of said construction, for securement of the margin in sealing relation with a vessel wall to define between the latter and said construction remainder a space for passing fluid to be heated.
 4. A heater according to claim 1, in combination with insulation insulating said chamber and passage remote from said exchange structure. 